Category: news

Samsung Galaxy S23 is expected to use Snapdragon processors across the board

 The expected arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t far off now — it should be around January — and the latest prediction from people familiar with the matter is that the phone lineup could exclusively use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

That comes from the usually reliable industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes that the superior performance of the next-generation Snapdragon mobile processor will “likely” beat anything Samsung’s own Exynos 2300 manages to do.

Samsung has previously split CPU duties between itself and Qualcomm when it comes to Galaxy S phones. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S22, 70% of the phones have a Qualcomm 8 Gen 1 processor, while 30% have a Samsung Exynos 2200 — these Exynos phones are mostly sold in Europe.

Chips are available

Although rumors have started, neither the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 nor the Samsung Exynos 2300 are official. Both chipsets will use 4nm architecture technology, just like the processors they are replacing.

However, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, Samsung CPUs can’t compete with Qualcomm in “everything” — and Samsung won’t sell a phone if it differs significantly in performance or battery life, depending on which processor is inside and Where in the world is it sold.

The move was also predicted by other sources, and Samsung is apparently working to have new and improved CPUs ready for 2025, while preparing to use Qualcomm chips. However, there is no firm news yet.

Analysis: What we know so far

We’re still 6 months away from seeing the Galaxy S23 — assuming Samsung will launch the phone when we think it will — but as to what this 2023 flagship might bring, There has been quite a bit of speculation.

We’ve heard that the rear camera module could feature a 200MP primary sensor and be the first Samsung phone to hit the megapixel mark. Obviously, the selfie camera on the front will also get a major upgrade.

According to people familiar with the matter, the selfie camera will not be embedded in the display. We can also expect the usual performance boost, and we might even get improved battery life – don’t count on it though.

Let’s hope Samsung makes enough to keep up with demand. Before we see the Galaxy S23, though, we’ll get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which will be released sometime in August.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Samsung battery

Mi 12S Ultra has the world’s largest smartphone camera sensor

 Xiaomi’s new 12S smartphone lineup includes the Mi 12S, Mi 12S Pro and 12 Ultra. All three phones will feature camera modules developed in partnership with Leica. The partnership, announced Monday at a virtual event, is the first for the Chinese phone maker, calling it a “strategic upgrade.”

Of the three, the Mi 12S Ultra is the highest-end model. It has a unique design designed to mimic the big-lens aesthetic of DSLR cameras and includes a powerful camera module to boot. There’s a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens.

But the main feature is the one-inch sensor Sony IMX 989 for the main camera (wide-angle lens), which Xiaomi managed to cram into the Mi 12S Ultra’s chassis. For context, that’s the same sensor found in Sony’s $1,200 point-and-shoot RX100 VII, which means the Mi 12S Ultra has the largest image sensor on any phone.

However, be warned: a phone’s time-honored camera hardware doesn’t guarantee top-notch photos. Like any other phone, the Mi 12S Ultra’s software will also play a key role in determining the image quality of the final photo, despite Xiaomi‘s proven track record.

Other specs for the Mi 12S Ultra include a top-of-the-line processor in the form of the first-gen Snapdragon 8 Plus, which Xiaomi says will mean lower power consumption and reduced heat emissions. There’s a 4,680 mAh battery powering the phone, which is complemented by 67W fast charging. There are also two custom Surge chips for battery management.

Mi 12S Ultra key specs

Dimensions: 163.17 x 74.92 x 9.06 mm

Resolution: 3,200 x 1,440 pixels, 522ppi

Cameras: 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel telephoto lens

Weight: 225 grams

Battery: 4,860mAh

Charging: 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Xiaomi battery

How to connect AirPods to a Chromebook

 When you stream Netflix on your Chromebook, you can easily listen to music or get better sound through headphones. But if you don’t like being tangled in wires, Bluetooth earbuds like Apple’s AirPods are a great option. Here, we’ll show you the steps you need to follow to connect your AirPods (or other Bluetooth headphones) to your Chromebook.

Can I use any bluetooth headset with my Chromebook?

Yes. If they use Bluetooth to connect to the device, they’ll happily use their Chromebook. However, some features may not work, especially if you have AirPods.

Controlling Siri, for example, is impossible because the Apple digital assistant resides on the iPhone and communicates with the AirPods, rather than “in” the earbuds themselves.

AirPods can be paired with multiple devices — thanks in part to iCloud — but they can only handle one active Bluetooth connection at a time. So make sure they are not connected to your iPhone (or Android phone) when trying to set them up on your Chromebook, as this can cause problems.

The easiest way to test this is to turn off the bluetooth on your phone while connecting them to your Chrome laptop by following the steps below.

How do I connect AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones to my Chromebook?

Connecting wireless earbuds to your Chromebook is easy. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click the time displayed in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook.

2. In the menu that appears, click the Bluetooth icon to turn it on, then click the down arrow to open the Bluetooth settings.

3. Open the case on the AirPods or press the pairing button.

You should see the headset appear in the list of Bluetooth devices detected by your Chromebook. ChromeOS will then automatically connect the earbuds and you’ll see a message letting you know this has happened.

To disconnect your AirPods from your Chromebook, go back to the Bluetooth settings and click the settings “cog” icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

You’ll be taken to the main settings page and you’ll see the Bluetooth earbuds listed as connected. To the far right of its name, click the three dots and select Disconnect.

>>>>>>>>>>>>AirPods battery

Installing Android apps in Windows 11 just got easier

 We’ve seen the development of easier access to Android apps in Windows 11, thanks to a new tool that lets you install those apps with a single click.

The WSA tool is an app that should make it easier to install and run Android apps in Windows 11.

The arrival of Android apps in Microsoft’s operating system has come as a surprise to some since the June announcement that Windows 11 showed off a host of new features.

While the apps will be available in the new Microsoft Store through a partnership with the Amazon Appstore, some wondered if other Android apps would be available outside the store. However, we’ve seen developers find ways to make your favorite Android apps available on Windows 11, whether they’re available on the Amazon App Store or not.

How to install WSATools

First, you need to make sure you have “Windows Subsystem for Android” installed on your device. This will ensure that Android apps can be downloaded without any problems.

Once done, download WSATools and you can now install Android apps with one click. These are usually labeled “.APK”, which is the file format in which Android packages are downloaded.

Clicking an app you download from Google will install the app like any Windows 11 app on your device, and you can log in and use them just like you would on an Android smartphone or tablet.

Analysis: inevitable

You can almost guarantee that indie developers will try to make the impossible possible. While a few weeks ago you had to go through a command prompt to access Google’s Play Store, now you can install Android apps like any other app in Windows.

While Microsoft takes a different approach to Android apps, WSATools shows how well Android apps can be managed and installed if Microsoft and Google decide to officially allow full access.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Computer battery

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 may be more similar to the Z Fold 3 than we expected

 While we’ve heard a lot of leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, we haven’t seen too many, and our best ideas about the possible design may be wrong.

This is according to TechTalkTV, who claimed on Twitter that the camera layout of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be almost identical to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

These renders show a camera design that appears to be more inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, with the lens rising directly from the rear rather than housed in a unique camera block.

But that doesn’t make a huge difference, as both these renders and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 include three vertical lenses with a flash underneath. It’s just that the Z Fold 3 – and according to the latest leaks there’s also the Z Fold 4 – has a metal casing around the lens.

It’s probably a shame if you wish there was an updated design, but it’s not all bad news, as in a follow-up tweet TechTalkTV also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 will “definitely have a 50MP main camera.”

This isn’t a new claim – various other leakers have said this before, but it’s more likely to hear it from another source, which would make the Galaxy’s 12MP main camera an upgrade – at least by megapixels Fold 3 for unit Z.

Analysis: Much-needed camera improvements

If we had to choose between a new design or a new sensor, we would definitely go with the new sensor, as the 12MP primary sensor in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is good, but far from exceptional.

The 50MP sensor rumored here is likely to be the same 50MP sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S22, and we’re pretty impressed with its performance. Having said that, given that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is sure to be expensive, we had the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 108MP sensor earlier.

Previous leaks have also pointed to other camera upgrades, with multiple sources suggesting that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will feature a 3x optical zoom telephoto camera, up from the Z Fold 3’s 2x optical zoom. Again, this isn’t an improvement as much as we did. Still, from what we’ve heard so far, we’re not sure if the Z Fold 4 will disrupt our best camera phone list.

>>>>>>>>>>Samsung battery

Apple announces MacBook Air M2 release date: preorders begin this Friday

 Apple said Wednesday that it will start taking preorders for its next-generation MacBook Air laptops starting Friday, July 8. And will actually start selling the system on July 15th. The new machines will go on sale globally this month, so time will soon tell if the company has produced enough PCs to meet initial demand.

Apple and its retail partners will offer M2 SoC-based systems in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Space Gray, starting at $1,199 for machines with 8GB of LPDDR5 memory and 256GB of solid-state storage.

For users with high performance requirements, the biggest improvement of the new MacBook Air is of course its M2 SoC, which is equipped with 4 high-performance Avalanche cores running up to 3.49GHz and 4 energy-efficient Blizzard cores, and a whopping 10 cluster. The chip can support up to 24GB of RAM with 100GBps of peak bandwidth, which will boost the performance of bandwidth-hungry applications such as graphics-intensive games.

Powered by the octa-core M2 SoC, the new Apple MacBook Air will be the company’s most significant redesign of the machine ever, as it features an all-new chassis with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display. The new chassis is very different from the wedge-shaped form factor introduced in 2008. The design improves the internal architecture of the machine, enabling higher performance, longer battery life and enhanced durability through improved airflow within the chassis. In addition, the new machine is equipped with a new 2560×16640 resolution display with a brightness of up to 500 nits, supports Display P3 color gamut, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The new MacBook Air also supports an external monitor with resolutions up to 6K at 60Hz.

Other changes include a new 1080p webcam, an improved audio subsystem with more speakers and microphones, and a 3.5mm headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones. As for input/output capabilities, the new MacBook Air features a Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0 radio, two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports, and a MagSafe port for charging. The machine is also equipped with a 52.6Wh battery, which is comparable to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple says the battery lasts up to 18 hours.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the new MacBook Air is that Apple will start selling it worldwide immediately. Traditionally, Apple launched its systems in the US and parts of Western Europe first, then left the rest of the world for later. This time around, the company has apparently managed to produce enough MBA systems for a global launch, which is great news for those planning to buy.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery

This Mac feature helps you multitask with just 2 clicks

 A window doesn’t always cut it, especially if you work from home. Opening multiple windows makes it easier to switch back and forth between different tasks. Whether you need to browse data to write a report, keep a chat window open while browsing, or just watch a video while “working” a novel, sometimes you only need a few things open at once. But switching between full-screen windows can be tedious and time-consuming.

Fortunately, Macs offer a split-screen mode that allows you to stick two apps on different sides of the display. This way, you can navigate between windows without navigating with the mouse or pressing Command + Tab. Let’s take a closer look below!

How to Enter Split View on Mac

1. Make sure both windows you want to use are not in fullscreen mode.

2. In one of the windows you want to use, place the cursor on the green button in the upper left corner. Instead of clicking to maximize the window, hover over until you see the drop-down menu.

3. Select the tile on the left side of the screen or the tile on the right side of the screen. Your Mac will automatically enter split screen mode.

4. From there, other open windows will appear on the other side of the screen. Click on the desired window on the rest of the screen and it will fill the remaining half.

5. If you want to resize the window, use the slider in the center of the screen.

How to Exit Split Screen on Mac

If you’re done with the split screen layout, here’s how to get rid of it:

1. Move the cursor to the top of the screen until you see the resize buttons at the top left of each window.

2. Click the red button to close the window or the green button to exit split screen.

3. Don’t panic! Your other window is still open – it’s just hidden in fullscreen mode. To access it again, press the Mission Control button ( F3 ) on the top row of the keyboard.

4. You should see two options at the top of the screen: the desktop and any windows you have in split screen mode. Click on another window, and if you want to exit full screen mode, use the green resize button in the upper left corner.

If you’re the type of person who might need to have more than two windows open, you can always manually resize the windows to fit three or four on the screen at a time. The experience won’t be as visually clean as using tiled windows.

Why can’t my Mac split screen?

First, make sure you’re not currently in fullscreen mode. Split screen only works with normal windowed views. If that’s not the problem, go to System Preferences > Mission Control and check if the monitor has separate spaces enabled. If not, enable it.

If you don’t see this option in the Mission Control menu, make sure you’ve updated to MacOS 10.11 or later. You can check your current OS version by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left menu and selecting About this Mac. If you are using an earlier version, you must update by clicking the “Software Update” button on this screen.

Keep in mind that not all apps support split screen. If you’ve tried everything else and the app still doesn’t tile in split-screen mode, the app probably doesn’t offer split-screen mode.

How to split screen on Mac without full screen?

The official split screen feature on Mac automatically splits two windows in full screen. If you don’t want a full screen view, you can manually drag the window to fit the required space. This option gives you more customization than Split View.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery

Asus ROG Phone 6, 6 Pro gaming phones boost Samsung’s OLED to 165Hz refresh rate

 Asus on Tuesday unveiled two new gaming phones, the ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro, with the latest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and Samsung AMOLED displays capable of running at a 165Hz refresh rate. In addition to the phone, the AeroActive Cooling 6 accessory clipped to the wire claims to reduce the temperature on the back of the phone by up to 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), while including tactile shoulder buttons.

Both phones also include a 6,000 mAh battery that charges 65 watts, and additional sensors that add game control via the phone’s gyroscope and the phone’s corners. They also include a 50-megapixel main camera, 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and 5-megapixel macro camera, respectively. Both phones also include a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

The main difference between the Standard 6 and 6 Pro is their storage and memory options: the Standard 6 starts with 256GB of storage, and models include 8GB and 12GB of RAM, while the 6 Pro includes 512GB of storage and 18GB of RAM. The Pro also has a second display on the back that can show notifications, system information, and animations. Instead, the 6 gets an LED logo that can be customized to light up in different situations.

Like other gaming phones, these are specs designed to prioritize power and performance in order to get the most out of Android gaming. The battery is particularly notable, with a 6,000mAH capacity on par with last year’s Asus ROG Phone 5. According to CNET reviewer Patrick Holland, the phone has one of the longest battery lives we’ve seen on an Android phone, and it’s done with two 3,000mAh batteries. Last year’s phone also had a very fast 144Hz screen, though, and this year’s faster 165Hz screen could affect how quickly it burns through a charge.

Having a 165Hz screen should also make animations very smooth, especially for games that can support that threshold. When I reviewed the RedMagic 7, which also has a 165Hz refresh rate, I found that since most phones are capped at 120Hz, only some Android games currently support the feature. 120Hz is smooth enough for most people, but for the gaming crowd this phone is aimed at, 165Hz does make what you see more precise.

While we’ll have to wait for the phone to get our hands dirty to see the Snapdragon chips in phones, this latest chip, along with higher refresh rate displays on displays made by Samsung, is interesting because they could both end up in more mainstream phones eventually.

>>>>>>>>>>>ASUS battery

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 13? See how it compares to older models

 Apple’s iPhone 13 lineup brings improvements like longer battery life, a new processor, and new camera features, but it’s still hard to know if it’s time for an upgrade. A large part of the decision depends on which iPhone you currently own.

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 13?

The short answer is that most iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 users will probably skip this upgrade because their phones are likely in good condition and there isn’t much that can meaningfully change the experience. If you have an iPhone from the last two years, you should wait for the rumored iPhone 14, which is expected to launch in September. Here’s how the iPhone 13 compares to its predecessor, let’s take a look!

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12, 12 Pro

If you have an iPhone 12, there’s little reason to upgrade right now. That’s because the iPhone 12 has a lot in common with the iPhone 13. They all support 5G, vibrant 6.1-inch OLED screens, fast processors, great cameras, and MagSafe accessory support. The biggest reasons to consider an upgrade are camera updates and better battery life.

All of Apple’s new iPhones, including the standard iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, will get a new video capture feature called Movie Mode, which automatically switches focus between subjects, giving shots a more cinematic aesthetic. This may seem like a neat trick for those who regularly use their phone for video projects. Apple says Movie Mode takes advantage of the new A15 Bionic processor, but it’s worth noting that Apple also has a history of bringing similar enhancements to previous iPhones via software updates.

Apple also introduced a new feature called “Photo Styles” that allows users to apply certain preferences to scenes in photos.

The iPhone 12 still features Apple’s 12-megapixel dual-camera system with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle cameras, while the iPhone 12 Pro series has Apple’s 12-megapixel triple-lens setup with wide-angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. Aside from the new features mentioned above that are only available on the iPhone 13 series, most camera features are the same across generations.

 Compared to the iPhone 12’s A14 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13’s aforementioned A15 Bionic processor offers faster speeds and longer battery life. Specifically, the iPhone 13 should last about 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 13 Mini is 1.5 hours longer than last year’s 12 Mini. The iPhone 13 Pro will last 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max will last 2.5 hours longer than its predecessor. The iPhone 13 Pro has up to 1TB of storage, while the iPhone 12 Pro maxes out at 512GB.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 11, 11 Pro

The iPhone 11 is almost three years old, but it’s probably running smooth enough for most people. You can at least wait until the iPhone 14 arrives before upgrading. Compared to the iPhone 13, sticking with the iPhone 11 misses out on two major additions: 5G support and a better camera.

The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro phones also lack 5G support compared to the iPhone 12 and 13, but that’s not the main reason for the upgrade right now. Widely deployed 5G networks are only marginally better than 4G LTE networks, and there aren’t really any apps or services available that can take advantage of the faster speeds.

The iPhone 13 also features Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 11 series uses Apple’s two-year-old A13 Bionic processor. Although it’s not the latest chip, the iPhone 11’s processor is still powerful enough. Apple even uses the same A13 Bionic chip in its new entry-level iPad, another sign that the processor is still capable.

Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 also has two hours longer battery life when playing video, supports Apple’s MagSafe accessory, and has twice the storage capacity of the base level. According to Apple’s website, the standard iPhone 13 has similar battery life to the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. But during video playback, the iPhone 13 Pro should last four hours longer than the iPhone 11 Pro and two hours longer than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The iPhone 11 also uses Apple‘s older design language, including rounded corners, with a smooth pastel finish on the standard model and a matte finish on the Pro model. By comparison, the iPhone 12 and newer have flatter edges, similar to the iPad Pro, and the Ceramic Shield coating should make it more durable, with a glossy glass back.

>>>>>>>>>>>iPhone battery

New Windows 11 virtual machine lets you try before switching

 If you’re on the fence about Windows 11, these new virtual machines might help

Microsoft has updated its free Windows 11 virtual machine (VM), which could give users the perfect way to try out the new operating system before switching.

Legacy Windows 11 virtual machines that were due to expire on July 10 have been replaced by a new set of virtual machines with an expiration date of September 11. The product is designed to give developers a way to play around with the operating system, but download them all. The latest update currently supports four different virtualization software options: VMWare, Hyper-V, VirtualBox, and Parallels.

Sample Windows 11

The new virtual machines are available for download through the Microsoft website. However, they don’t offer a way to go beyond the notoriously strict Windows 11 hardware requirements, and users also need 20GB of empty disk space.

The virtual machines will be available by September, and users will have access to tools like Visual Studio 2022, including UWP, .NET desktop, Azure, and the Windows App SDK to enable C# workloads, as well as Windows Subsystem for Linux and Ubuntu installations.

But there’s also no reason non-developers can’t use these virtual machines to test new versions of Windows ahead of a potential transition. The announcement comes as Microsoft has been rolling out a slew of updates for Windows 11. For example, Windows 11 users will use the new search feature in the latest round of updates.

The new “Search Highlights” feature promises “a single click or tap of the taskbar to bring to the world and your locale every day’s particularly important and interesting moments – such as holidays, anniversaries and other educational moments”.

Separately, Microsoft is preparing to roll out an update to File Explorer, introducing a tab system for the first time to help reduce desktop clutter and improve multitasking.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Computer battery